SXT front bumper cover customization

Sxteve · Post by **Sxteve** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 2:39 pm

I'm getting ready to replace the front bumper cover of my 04 SXT with OEM from certifit with fog lights. I was wondering if there are some ways to make it look better before its painted. I was thinking of cutting the vents under the bumper, and then puttin a bullit type grill in, or maybe just leave it all open. Any other ideas?

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 3:46 pm

Replace it with a 02 R/T bumper?

Sorry, that's all I have.

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 3:51 pm

The only thing I can think of that might look 'ok' would be to paint the slats in the lower grilles black. Not sure though. Nothing good comes out of using billet mesh.

Sxteve · Post by **Sxteve** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 4:17 pm

Danteneon wrote:Replace it with a 02 R/T bumper?

Sorry, that's all I have.

I dont think they make an R/T replacement bumper cover anymore?? Not 100% sure. But the R/T would look better.

As far as painting the slots black, thats a better idea then cutting them out the lots and putting in a bullet mesh. - not bad! shall i roll the dice?? =P

I'd put an aftermarket bumper cover, but my insurance is paying for it, not me.

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 4:23 pm

Use some Pasti-Dip on the grilles. That way if you don't like it you can just take it off.

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 4:32 pm

Cutting the grilles out doesn't look good imo and neither does painting them black. What does make the bumper look a LOT better is a Mopar lip and color matching your chrome grille trim.

Sxteve · Post by **Sxteve** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 4:54 pm

Yeah, the grill trim was already in plan.

Am i correct saying that the R/T front bumper cover and the mopar lip is no longer available? i'd have to buy them from Ebay and or this site from private sellers?

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 5:09 pm

R/T bumper can be bought from the dealer, and the lip kit is still available through the dealer as well. The sideskirts are no longer sold though. The R/T bumper is outrageous though. The lip kit is just a little over $100 but you will have to take whatever color you can find as they're getting scarce

Sxteve · Post by **Sxteve** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 5:22 pm

Awwwww! thats horrible news. especially considering i need side skirts soon, and the front bubmper cover can only be bought from http://www.certifit.com/e-mmyproducts.aspx.

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 5:28 pm

Well an 03+ bumper cover can come from anywhere. If insurance is paying I'm not sure why they aren't replacing it with a Mopar bumper

Sxteve · Post by **Sxteve** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 5:44 pm

Because the guy doing my work only goes through certifit. i dunno, i'm sure i could pay the difference. I doubt it though. i'm kinda puttin $ in my pocket for new springs and struts =) ShhhHhhhhHhhh

akirony · Post by **akirony** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 7:54 pm

I cut my gills in the middle when I added my lip kit and to me it looks better than stock. the fogs add to the effect.

Sxteve · Post by **Sxteve** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 8:03 pm

No, i think that looks great!, i'd like to see what it looks like on the car.

- Did you bother to "fill in" the open cuts? Doesn't look like it. If you do regret it, how would u filll them in?
Mine would still have the for light openings, cause i really like the look and drive of them.

- Looks great though IMHO!!
I gotta get that lip kit now lol!

akirony · Post by **akirony** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 8:15 pm

Im sorry if my pics are HUGE!!! Theyre with my phone when I was at work. I haven't had the time to fill'em in or sand them down yet. Was thinking about mounting my plate in the center offset a lil.

Sxteve · Post by **Sxteve** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 8:37 pm

That looks good. Did you ever put the mesh grill in the top part?, or did you leave it as is? I thought about doing the same thing.

** side question.

Whats the styrofoam thing in the bottem of the grill for lol? was thinking of tearing that out as well! Guessing its airflow, but i dropped my licence plate lower so i was thinking of removing it to compensate.

akirony · Post by **akirony** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 8:57 pm

I didnt put the grill back in because I was gonna paint it flat black on the top openings and silver on the bottom openings. But I just havent got to it. Without it the top of the bumper flaps a little and its loose. Its kinda needed to hold it in place on the top. I should just cut out the part thats seen and put it back on for support.

That styrofoam thing holds the grill in between the bumper and metal bumper support and as another support like bar to hold the bumpers' form.

Sxteve · Post by **Sxteve** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 9:18 pm

Excellent! Thank you!

Pablodragon · Post by **Pablodragon** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 10:20 pm

if you can ignore the crappy pic cropping and coloring...and the white stripes... here's an evolution of my lower grills... stock, unpainted...then painted black with the lip kit...then sides cut, 1 bar removed...to mount driving lights

Sxteve · Post by **Sxteve** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 10:32 pm

Pretty cool evolution. Nice to know i'm not the only one that had this idea! lol! The lip kit makes it!

srtgtr34 · Post by **srtgtr34** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 7:17 pm

Sxteve wrote:Pretty cool evolution. Nice to know i'm not the only one that had this idea! lol! The lip kit makes it!

If your interested in the front lip, I can get it to ya for $50 bucks. Its brand new with everything, and we can meet up since your not too far.

Its painted px8 black though...

theTeejmiester · Post by **theTeejmiester** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 7:37 pm

this was an idea I had to make the 03+ front bumper look better

Sxteve · Post by **Sxteve** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 8:12 pm

srtgtr34 wrote:
Sxteve wrote:Pretty cool evolution. Nice to know i'm not the only one that had this idea! lol! The lip kit makes it!
If your interested in the front lip, I can get it to ya for $50 bucks. Its brand new with everything, and we can meet up since your not too far.

Its painted px8 black though...

PM sent...

- Teej, Thats real cool! I love it!, doubt i could pull that off with no Fiberglass exp. But i'll look into it.

theTeejmiester · Post by **theTeejmiester** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 11:06 pm

you don't want to fiberglass it, you would use some sheet plastic and a plastic welder with filler rod to do that, its actualy pretty easy to do with the right tools, I did my mugen lip and it looks great and is durable as hell

LowNSlow · Post by **LowNSlow** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 11:12 pm

akirony wrote:I cut my gills in the middle when I added my lip kit and to me it looks better than stock. the fogs add to the effect.

I'm sorry but that looks terrible to ME.

Sxteve · Post by **Sxteve** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 11:24 pm

To each their own. It's because we all have different tastes that we all dont drive the same color prism.. =)

Dylan-00Blue · Post by **Dylan-00Blue** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 12:48 am

No, cutting them in any fashion looks stupid.

Panhead · Post by **Panhead** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 1:22 am

02 front bumpers are overrated.

akirony · Post by **akirony** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 8:54 pm

Dylan-00Blue wrote:No, cutting them in any fashion looks stupid.

Well in the eye of the beholder. It takes different strokes to run an engine.

dblsg · Post by **dblsg** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 12:57 pm

never did like the cut grilles... not even on Doubtedneon's car, and he had an IC there.

2003se559 · Post by **2003se559** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 3:46 pm

dont cut them buy the lip and color match them